Conference Tournaments

In college basketball the only thing as important as the NCAA Tournament is the conference tournament. All season long teams across the country compete for a winning record that will guarantee them a top seed in the conference tournament. Earning a top seed comes with its benefits as in some instances it could grant teams with a first and/or second round bye. For teams that struggle during the regular season the conference tournament is the light at the end of the tunnel that can send them to the NCAA Tournament regardless of past performances. Winners of each conference tournament are crowned as conference champions and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Most Division 1 Conferences host a tournament at the end of the regular season to determine the leagues champion. However, conferences that do not hold a tournament determine a champion based on regular season standings. The conference tournaments are usually broken down into four rounds but may vary depending on the conference. These tournaments can be just as exciting as watching the NCAA Tournament as teams leave it all on the court with high hopes of advancing into March Madness.

Before the start of the Big Dance however, it’s the conference tournaments that can produce just as much drama as the main course. From bubble teams needing important wins, to Cinderella stories trying to win automatic bids, to big-time teams trying to cinch down a number one seed, this year’s rendition of conference tournaments should prove to be just as important.

There should be some interesting storylines to follow in the 2014 conference tournaments. Assuming that the Wichita State Shockers can finish their remaining regular season slate undefeated, they will have a shot at entering the NCAA tournament undefeated with a No. 1 seed. However, history has shown that anything can happen at the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, so there is always the potential of a major upset there. In addition, with the 2014 college basketball season billed as the greatest crop of freshmen ever, first-year players that have struggled such as those playing for the Kentucky Wildcats will have a chance to redeem themselves with a conference tournament championship following a sub-par conference regular season.

While teams sitting squarely on the bubble such as the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Tennessee Volunteers will have their work cut out for them in the first rounds of their respective conference tournaments, many fans will be focused squarely on the teams that step up to take the conference tournament crowns.

Here are the Conference Tournaments:

Here is the TV Schedule:

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Garlic Mustard Glaze

Makes about 3/4 cup of glaze, or enough to cover and baste two pounds of skewered meat.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION

Whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl, cover,

let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours before using.

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